Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar
During both keynotes, the Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar will share their testimony about their life, their faith, and their walk with the Lord as a family. Jim Bob and Michelle have a rich testimony of the ways God has worked in their personal lives and in their family by making one commitment at a time. Throughout their lives, it is clear that effectiveness and fruitfulness have been the byproducts of following through in obedience each time the Lord made His direction clear. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear the Duggars’ testimony.
Mother-Daughter Q & A ~ Michelle Duggar and Daughters (Women-only workshop)
This is a special time, just for moms and daughters! This is YOUR chance to get your questions answered, as Michelle Duggar and her eldest daughters will give a short presentation and then respond to questions from the audience. The Q&A period will be moderated by Anne Miller.
Michael Farris
The Coming Attack on Homeschooling
The first and second waves of attacks on homeschooling were essentially based on lies. “You won’t succeed academically.” We proved them wrong. “Your kids won’t be socialized.” We proved them wrong. The third wave is fundamentally different. It accuses us: “You will teach your kids that Christianity is the only true religion.” This attack is true. Michael Farris examines the newest anti-homeschooling strategy of the legal elites, explains how it will impact us today and tomorrow, and outlines a plan of action.
The Homeschooling Father
Even busy executives with 10 children like Michael Farris can and should take part in homeschooling—not just in teaching, but also in supporting their wives.
Let’s Talk About Courtship and Dating
Whether you are navigating the young-adult years now or you are looking ahead, guiding your children to cultivate godly relationships is a primary focus. This panel discussion with five veteran homeschool parents and favorite conference speakers—Mike Farris, Dennis Gundersen, Kathie Morrissey, Israel Wayne, and Anne Miller—will both encourage you and get your questions answered!
Jeff Myers
No More Walking Away: Why Kids Leave the Faith
Up to 80% of young people raised in Christian homes reject the faith by the time they reach their twenties. Dr. Myers reveals what the research says about why kids walk away from their faith and shows what you can do to help them hunger for truth and righteousness.
Answering the “What-Should-I-Do-With-My-Life?” Question
Personality tests and vocational aptitude tests can’t tell you what you really need to know about your child’s design. Dr. Myers shares practical ways to inspire purpose in your child by recognizing his motivated abilities and cultivating his God-given gifts.
Cultivating Kids—Raising Children to Live Fruitful Lives
This generation of children has greater potential and opportunity than perhaps any generation in American history—and yet they’re growing up in a culture of aimlessness and passive consumerism. As one of the world’s leading authorities on youth leadership development and a homeschool dad, Dr. Myers weaves together fascinating biblical insights, penetrating social commentary, and humorous personal stories to help you see your child’s potential in a whole new way.
Dianne Craft
Download this speaker’s workshop handouts.
Identifying Your Child’s Processing Problem
Many of us have a child or teenager at home who is bright and hard working but seems to have to work harder than he or should have to. During the school day, parents may frequently hear their child or teenager say, “I’m so dumb. I can’t do anything.” Could it be a “blocked learning gate” or is it a maturity issue? Find out what red flags to look for to see if you should start interventions, or if you can just wait for the maturity to come. Whether a child is struggling with just a learning glitch, or has an identified learning disability like dyslexia, dysgraphia, or autism, you can do interventions at home that will make learning easy for this child!
Dysgraphia: When a Child or Teenager “Won’t” Write
Do you have a child who seems to be allergic to a pencil? If your child groans and fusses about writing, or still writes reversals, or has math papers that are hard to read because the numbers are lined up so poorly, this workshop is for you! These children are often thought of as sloppy, lazy, or unmotivated, when they really have a writing glitch. They are using way too much energy for the writing process, and can’t get their thoughts down in writing because of a blocked learning gate. In this workshop, you will be shown a daily exercise you can do with your child to get the writing into his ‘automatic’ brain hemisphere, and take the stress out of his writing system!
Train Your Child’s Photographic Memory
Many people think that some are just born with a “photographic memory.” But we now know that this amazing ability can be easily taught. Research shows that 50% of the population stores information more efficiently in their visual, right brain memory. In this workshop, find out how to teach your children learning strategies that are taught at Cambridge University. These visual memory techniques work with all types of learners, and can be an essential learning tool for a child who has an auditory processing glitch. Help your children get in touch with the “smart part of themselves,” and they’ll be forever grateful to you for it. It even works with adults!
Kids and Teenagers with Focus/Attention Issues
Do you have a child who has to work too hard to stay focused on a task? Does his pencil become paralyzed when you leave the room for a few minutes? Does he seem lazy and unmotivated? Many times these kids suffer from mood swings, temper tantrums, “spaciness,” sleep problems, anxiety, and sensory processing problems. Often, they also have stomachaches, leg pains, allergies, and bedwetting. These do not need to be part of a child’s life. It is easy to correct these conditions at home and dramatically affect your child’s learning day. Dianne is a nutritionist who specializes in helping parents find natural ways to help their children and teenagers who work too hard to focus.
Heidi St. John
REAL LIFE Homeschooling
Let’s face it. Homeschooling is challenging. Sometimes it can feel like an accomplishment just to take a shower and get the breakfast dishes cleaned up before dinner! Most homeschool moms feel the pressure to provide a solid academic foundation—but there’s so much more to homeschooling than academics! The greatest accomplishment of your homeschooling is to nurture your children in the ways of the One who made them. REAL LIFE homeschooling is about getting real when it comes to the issues that are unique to homeschooling families; it’s about being reminded why we are homeschooling in the first place. It’s about keeping our eyes on the goal of discipling our children. If you are on the edge of homeschool burnout, if you are wondering why God has called you on this homeschooling journey, or if you just need some honest encouragement, this is one workshop you can’t afford to miss!
The Busy Homeschool Mom’s Guide™ to Romance
What comes first, the marriage or the math lesson? Most moms have felt the pull and pressure of trying to balance their marriages and their commitment to motherhood. Homeschooling adds a new dynamic to the pressures of motherhood—but it doesn’t mean you need to let your marriage suffer! In fact, it’s never been more crucial to strengthen the core of your family. Your marriage comes first! In this workshop, you’ll learn several key ingredients to balancing your love life with language lessons—and how you can become the most romantic homeschool mom on the block! Heidi’s workshop will challenge the way you view your marriage and inspire you to seek God’s heart as you model a strong, healthy marriage for your children. This is Heidi’s favorite topic, so bring a notepad and fasten your seatbelts! It’s time to put the “real OO” back in your homeschool!
The Busy Homeschool Mom’s Guide™ to Daytime
Wondering how to fit your size 16 day into a size 10? Have you ever experienced a series of days, weeks, or even months when you felt like you just could NOT get on top of all that you had to do? Most moms struggle with finding a balance when it comes to homeschooling and staying on top of the rest of their days. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Homeschooling reveals weakness—it’s true!—and that’s a good thing! Homeschool mom, if you’re struggling with trying to do it all, you will enjoy hearing some of Heidi’s favorite tips for managing homeschooling and homemaking and still finding time to fit in “other things”—like alone time with your husband! Learn how two words—BE INTENTIONAL—can make a huge difference in your ability to manage your home and your homeschool well. Heidi really loves to use acrostics, and this is one of her favorites!
Notebooking and Multi-Level Teaching
Do you feel like your homeschooling has hit the wall? Or maybe you have hit the wall! You’re not alone! Have you been wondering how to get both your fifth grader and your sophomore excited about learning at the same time? Heidi will teach you this wonderful skill using the “show ‘n tell” approach. The St. Johns have been notebooking for several years, and the result is that the children write more, learn better, and have a beautiful record of what they have learned at the end of the year. This is not a condemnation of workbooks—they do have their place—but rather it is an opportunity for you to discover a life-giving, truly interactive way of learning. This is a very hands-on workshop. Heidi will walk you through several approaches to notebooking and, as she does, you will discover that there is a notebooker inside of you!
10 Marriage Myths That Will Steal Your Joy
How is the state of your union? When was the last time you stopped and put your finger on the pulse of your marriage? If you are struggling in your marriage, or even if you’re not, this is a message of hope and encouragement that will remind you of what’s important and help you stay on course as you navigate through the homeschool years with the man of your dreams. This is a 90-minute workshop that is geared toward the often-overlooked issues that tend to weigh down our marriages over time. FACT: If your marriage is not a priority in your home (including your homeschool), then your family is at risk. Come and learn how to recognize the signs of weakness in your marriage and learn what defines a joy-filled marriage. Hint: It doesn’t have anything to do with your circumstances!
Israel Wayne
Things to Consider Before Starting a Home Business
Many Christian families are looking for ways to start a home-based business to promote family unity and to supplement or generate a full-time income. While there are many advantages to this decision, there are many pitfalls as well. Israel helps you to look before you leap and to succeed once you jump.
Inside the Brain of a Hyperactive Homeschooler
If you have a hyperactive or easily distractible child, you won’t want to miss this informative and sometimes humorous message that shares the perspective of a homeschooling father who was once himself a hyperactive homeschooled child. You will receive practical and biblical insights into ADD/ADHD and will be encouraged that there is hope for your child!
Homeschooling from a Biblical Worldview
Are your children prepared to face the “real world”? Learn how to equip your children to stand against the flood of secularism and humanism that threatens to drown them. What is your worldview? How will you transfer a biblical worldview to your children? How can you be more effective than the media and popular culture? Discover how to teach your children to view the core subjects—and all of life—through the lens of Scripture.
The History of the Homeschooling Movement
Over the past 6,000 years, homeschooling has been the primary form of education for nearly every culture worldwide. Compulsory government schooling has only been around in America since about 1840, but it is so pervasive that for most parents, public schooling is all they have ever experienced. The modern-day homeschooling movement has taken America by storm, with nearly two million students being home educated nationwide. Learn about the origins of the rebirth of home-based learning, and discover God’s purposes and plans for the future of the homeschooling movement.
Let’s Talk About Courtship and Dating
Whether you are navigating the young-adult years now or you are looking ahead, guiding your children to cultivate godly relationships is a primary focus. This panel discussion with five veteran homeschool parents and favorite conference speakers—Mike Farris, Dennis Gundersen, Kathie Morrissey, Israel Wayne, and Anne Miller—will both encourage you and get your questions answered!
Fruit of the Harvest: Homeschool Graduate Panel
Get valuable insight from this panel discussion with homeschool graduates (and conference speakers!) who have walked in the same shoes your children are. Rachel Coker, Jonathan Lewis, and Israel Wayne will share their experiences growing up in a homeschooling family.
Amanda Bennett
Top Ten Tips for Successful Homeschooling
There are plenty of interesting ideas and methods for homeschooling that you read and hear about these days. After 18 years of homeschooling, Amanda Bennett has collected her best tried-and-true tips and ideas to help you succeed. From teaching our children to read, helping them through the maze of fractions and algebra, and surviving driver’s education and poetry, the journey of homeschooling takes an abundance of love and patience. Join Amanda as she shares her best homeschooling tips, along with plenty of encouragement and laughter, to make the journey one of wonder and accomplishment for both the students and the parents.
Unit Studies – Powerfully Simple Tools
Have you been wondering about unit studies? Do you want to learn what they are and how they are used in homeschooling? Come join Amanda Bennett, author of the popular Download N Go™ and Passport Geography series, and learn the basics of this highly effective educational tool. Considered a unit-study expert by some and a funny, down-to-earth mom by others, Amanda is the author of more than 90 books, a popular conference speaker, and wife and homeschooling mom of three. With a degree in engineering, she has learned about homeschooling the hard way—practicing on their children and remembering that a sense of humor is an important homeschooling survival skill.
Being the Homeschool Mom That They Need
No one ever said that being a mom was going to be easy, and the added responsibility of being a homeschool mom can be overwhelming at times. What do your children NEED from you that will carry them through the bumpy road of life ahead? How can you be that homeschool mom—the one that they need—and still stay fairly sane and enjoy this life of homeschooling? With three kids in or finished with college, Amanda has plenty of experience, lessons to share, and loads of encouragement for your journey.
Marilyn Boyer
Our First Thirty Years of Homeschooling – with Rick Boyer
Rick Boyer and his wife have been homeschooling since 1980. Starting out young and “green” in a time when only a handful of families were homeschooling, Rick and Marilyn found few resources to help them in their journey. They had to blaze their own trail, surviving such obstacles as skeptical grandparents, hostile school authorities, unhelpful curriculum publishers, blizzards, Indian attacks (just kidding)… The Boyers are still homeschooling today and now share their experiences around the world through their books and their speaking ministry. Rick will share some of the most profound lessons learned along the way, including: “It’s not schooling; it’s discipleship,” “Life is the curriculum,” “The kid is the can,” “Socialization is for socialists,” “George Washington survived without little league,” and many more!
Teaching a Curriculum That Fits Your Child
Scripture tells us to “train up a child in the way he should go”—not the way “they” should go. Each child is unique. He has his own fascinating blend of talents, interests, gifts, and weaknesses. To help each of our children fulfill his life calling, we must develop a specific plan for each child’s training. Come and hear how Marilyn Boyer designed a life curriculum for each of her 14 “very unique” children.
A Legacy of Greatness: Inspiring Your Kids to Become Today’s Heroes
True stories of heroic people have always inspired children to dream big dreams and strive to be all they can be. The teaching of history is often neglected in modern schooling, and our failure to appreciate our cultural heritage has undermined the freedoms for which our founding fathers sacrificed so much. It is crucial that you arm your children with exciting and inspiring truths about the men who made America a “city on a hill” for the rest of the world. The courage, brilliance, and self-sacrifice of those who pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor are still powerful examples to young people today, challenging them to greatness and showing them why they must reclaim the “sweet land of liberty” that is our American heritage. Teach your children to put God first in their lives and to reclaim our country’s future by embracing the glory of her past!
Home Educating with Babies and Toddlers
It’s a blessing but it can be stressing! Homeschooling with tiny ones around the house is a special challenge, but one that many moms handle with great success. Come hear how Marilyn Boyer, mother of 14 and a homeschooler with 22 years of experience, makes her little ones a valuable part of the team! (Note: this session has some overlap with “Hands-on Character Building,” so you may want to choose one or the other.)
Rick Boyer
Our First Thirty Years of Homeschooling – with Marilyn Boyer
Rick Boyer and his wife have been homeschooling since 1980. Starting out young and “green” in a time when only a handful of families were homeschooling, Rick and Marilyn found few resources to help them in their journey. They had to blaze their own trail, surviving such obstacles as skeptical grandparents, hostile school authorities, unhelpful curriculum publishers, blizzards, Indian attacks (just kidding)… The Boyers are still homeschooling today and now share their experiences around the world through their books and their speaking ministry. Rick will share some of the most profound lessons learned along the way, including: “It’s not schooling; it’s discipleship,” “Life is the curriculum,” “The kid is the can,” “Socialization is for socialists,” “George Washington survived without little league,” and many more!
A World-Changing Worldview
It is not enough to read a book or take a course about worldview and agree with it. A truly Christian worldview, one that defines a person’s approach to every area of life, is a matter of the heart more than the intellect. Scripture tells us that if we are in Christ, we are new creatures. Old things have passed away and all things have become new. Our outlook on God, humanity and the world around us must be determined by the practical application of Scripture to every situation. We are not to “fit in” with the culture around us, but to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Get equipped to train up sons and daughters who are not squeezed into the mold of the world around them, but who are determined to be world-changers instead!
Boys Will Be Men
Eighty percent of the children labeled “learning-disabled” in school are boys. That’s why wise parents understand that the confinement, boredom, and regimentation of school are things to be avoided if boys are to thrive. The key to understanding and cooperating with the drives God has built into boys is in recognizing that boyhood is preparation for the roles of family protector, provider, and leader that naturally and biblically fall upon men. We must understand that we are not raising boys, but training future men, if we are to make boyhood the exciting and profitable season of life that God intended it to be.
Homeschooled Heroes: How They Did It
Many of the most important and best-educated people in history-Washington, Lincoln, Edison, Franklin, John Quincy Adams–spent little or no time in school. Learn from their experiences, and educate your children for greatness.
Jonathan Brush
What Students Should Learn Before They Launch
Why is it that nearly half of college graduates can’t find a job? What’s missing? What does a student really need to learn between the ages of 16 and 22 to be ready for “real life”? Everyone focuses on academics, but young people need more than academic ability to be fully equipped for the challenges and responsibilities of adulthood. In this session, Jonathan will guide you through the seven essential skills and abilities that are crucial for successfully launching into adulthood. Learn to maximize the potential of this unique time of life, and be prepared and equipped for extraordinary success!
Dual Credit on Steroids: Your First Year of College for Less Than $1000
Who says you need to be in a classroom for an entire semester to earn college credit? With “Credit by Exam,” students earn college credit in more than 300 standardized subject exams, commonly known as CLEP and DSST exams.
This practical session will introduce you to the why, the what, and the how of “Credit by Exam” programs that allow students to earn dual credit, saving you money and time while never setting foot in a college classroom. Attendees learn exam-specific study tips on the five general CLEP exams, which represent the equivalent of the first year of college. Come discover the best-kept secret in higher education!
Yvonne Bunn
Introduction to Homeschooling
“Homeschooling is among the top 10 of more than 200 significant trends that will have an impact on future society,” says The Trends Journal, world leader in trends analysis and forecasting. If you’ve wondered what homeschooling is, or who homeschools and why, this fact-filled workshop will give you answers. From the history of homeschooling to the statistical results of the most recent nationwide study, you will receive the information you need to decide if homeschooling is right for you and your family.
How to Begin: What You Really Need to Know
Overwhelmed by friendly advice and tons of information? This informative workshop will help you weed through all the things you’ve heard and focus on what you really need to know to homeschool successfully: Am I qualified? How do I prepare? Where can I go for help? What things should I never do? What are some secrets of success? And more! Don’t miss this opportunity to get off to the right start.
Know the Law: Notifying and Testing Demystified
Know your homeschooling rights—don’t let the “legalese” confuse you! In this workshop, find out who is required to attend school, what requirements you must meet in order to homeschool, what test and evaluation options may be used, whom you should notify and when, what to do if you are homeschooling because of your sincere religious beliefs, and what types of records you need to keep. Know your options before you begin!
How to Choose a Curriculum that Works!
There is no one way to homeschool, so that means you have lots of choices—maybe more than you want when it comes to curriculum! After a stroll through the Exhibit Hall, you can find yourself overwhelmed with more choices and questions than you ever dreamed you could have. What’s the difference in a classical approach and a unit study approach? What are “living” books? Is a correspondence course best? Does unschooling produce results? Is high-tech homeschooling a good choice? All too often parents tend to rely on what their friends are using, but that may not be the best choice for their child’s individual needs or his learning style. Through a directed series of questions, you’ll discover how to maneuver through the maze of choices and find the best curriculum for your homeschool.
Tim Chambers
Six Ways to Inspire Your Art Student
Come for an encouraging and informative session for parents, presented by professional painter, author, teacher, speaker, and founder of IguanaPaint.com, Timothy Chambers. Tim will discuss the importance of art at home as well as tips on teaching art, answering questions such as:
Why bother teaching art?
What age is best for learning?
What supplies do I need, and where can I find them?
What can I do to facilitate my children’s creativity?
What if I feel unqualified to teach art? Is there help?
Can you offer practical tips on teaching at home?
A Q&A time will follow. Attendees receive helpful handouts, including discounts for materials and art instruction.
Values in Art
Join Timothy Chambers in this hands-on session to learn about the importance of values in art. Just as a clear set of values is essential in life, recognizing values in art is critical to producing good drawings and paintings. Tim will guide parents through a sample art lesson to illustrate how he teaches values to his students. You’ll have a fun and relaxing time as you take off the “parent cap” for a moment and enjoy being a student as Tim leads you step-by-step through a valuable exercise you can teach your children at home that will pay great dividends in their artwork. You’ll have a chance to see Tim’s teaching from a student’s view. All materials are supplied, so reserve your space early!
Can You Really Learn Art Online?
Art is purely a hands-on endeavor that requires a real, live studio to learn, right? Professional artist and teacher Timothy Chambers used to think so…until he began teaching his own online courses two years ago. Armed with his own experience as a student, apprentice, and professional portrait artist and art teacher, Tim discovered that much of art is a combination of cognitive and hands-on exercises, all of which can be taught online in your home. Tim will show you the various courses offered at IguanaPaint.com, where his students learn classic principles and what he calls “serious instruction in the arts.” Come join us for a great learning experience!
Rachel Coker
In this interactive workshop, 17-year-old published author, Rachel Coker, shares the inspiring story of how she received a contract from Zondervan, one of the largest Christian publishing companies, at the tender age of fifteen. With a lively question-and-answer format and plenty of audience participation, Rachel seeks to share her experience and knowledge of fiction writing and the publication process with other aspiring authors.
Fruit of the Harvest: Homeschool Graduate Panel
Get valuable insight from this panel discussion with homeschool graduates (and conference speakers!) who have walked in the same shoes your children are. Rachel Coker, Jonathan Lewis, and Israel Wayne will share their experiences growing up in a homeschooling family.
Steve Demme
The Family that Stays Together Stays Together
In this encouraging workshop, Steve relates many positive experiences he and his wife have experienced raising their four sons. With plenty of humorous illustrations, Steve shares tried-and-proven suggestions that have enhanced their family life. With God’s help, he is convinced there is hope for the family in the 21st century.
Our Father Who Art in Heaven
Steve shares his own experiences as the father of four young men, along with insights into restoring the hearts of fathers to children and vice versa. Also included are stories of famous sons and their faithful fathers, from David and Solomon to Ken Ham and his dad.
Seeing Fractions is Understanding Fractions
Four out of five people don’t understand fractions! With one hands-on model, Steve demonstrates how to do the basic operations and see where the formulas come from. The grand finale is how to convert a fraction to a decimal to a percent.
Elementary Algebra Taught Concretely
Instead of mere symbols on paper, Steve creates a model, using manipulatives, to illustrate the central concepts of algebra: problem solving, exponents, squares, square roots, negative numbers, basic operations with polynomials, factoring trinomials, and graphing lines.
Tom DeRosa
The Great Designer
One can only give God all the glory when studying the gift of life. The amazing intricate details, the magnificent organization, and the astonishing complexity with its highly interdependent structures all work together in harmony to accomplish a single purpose–to make us see Him. Join Tom DeRosa—author, popular speaker, and trained Christian educator—as he makes connections with the Word of God and creation, as he explains the language of life expressed in the DNA and metamorphosis of butterflies, and much more. Witness how the theory of evolution, when met head-on with life’s testimony of an ultimate grand design, will totally collapse and be left in ruins.
The Ice Age and God’s Word
Does the book of Job, one of the oldest books of the Bible, give testimony of ice and snow that was present during an Ice Age? Can you make the connection between the worldwide flood of Genesis and the conditions for an Ice Age? Were there giant creatures roaming the earth after the flood? Do you know how the Tower of Babel is directly connected to the migration of people and animals during the time of the Ice Age? Let Tom DeRosa answer these questions and many others; he has witnessed much of the Ice Age evidence in the many fossil trips he has taken for more than 20 years, having led approximately 10,000 people down the Peace River and through the famous “Bone Valley” fossil beds.
Getting Excited about Teaching Science
Our children should have every opportunity to know God as their Creator and Savior as they explore and discover the world around them. Be part of the adventure and see how exciting, hands-on activities—through a new elementary science curriculum, Investigate the Possibilities—will make science enjoyable and, at the same time, offer a conceptual background for the future development in science. This curriculum has received excellent reviews from the critics at large and has been used by many homeschool co-op groups. Tom DeRosa, co-author and professional and passionate educator, will motivate and stir curiosity, making science exciting to teach and pointing to Jesus Christ as our Creator.
Steve and Annette Economides
When is Enough . . . Enough? Finding Contentment by Living Like a King
Is the culture defining your family—where you live, what you drive, and which activities you choose? There are four areas of your life where you can start taking control right now to rise above the cultural pressures and enjoy a vibrant family life full of the things you need and the relationships you desire.
Four Keys to Your Family’s Financial Success
Just because don’t have a six-figure income doesn’t mean that you have to endure a life of deprivation. Steve and Annette will motivate you to action with their four keys to financial success—The Potential of Planning, The Revelations of Research, The Power of Persistence and the Authority of Attitude. They teach practical, actionable ideas, with dozens of tips that you can start applying today. You’ll learn how to keep more of what you earn, get out of debt, and increase your enjoyment of everyday life.
College Knowledge and Finances
Steve and Annette Economides raised five kids and all of them have gone to college without student loans or massive tax-sheltered savings accounts. In this presentation Steve and Annette share the multiple strategies they’ve given their kids to achieve excellent grades and great test scores, which have led to huge scholarship awards and grants. These are tried and true methods for getting an excellent education and staying out of debt—all taken from their book, The MoneySmart Family System: Teaching Financial Independence to Children of EVERY Age.
Raising Real Kids for the Real World
“Book-smart” kids may do well in school, but who will prepare them for the realities of life? Becoming “life smart” is critical for real-world success. Steve and Annette Economides have been teaching life skills to children since 1995 in the areas of personal responsibility, organization, personal appearance, attitude, and work ethic. You can create an atmosphere of learning where everyday experiences are the vehicle to develop children into adults who excel in every area of life.
Cutting Your Grocery Bill in Half
Do you need to be an “extreme couponer,” spending hours clipping and filing coupons, to gain maximum savings at the grocery store? Frugal shoppers and NY Times Best-Selling authors Steve & Annette Economides say, “No!” They’ll share how we feed a family of five for just $350 per month, as well as multiple ways you can save beyond clipping and sorting coupons. Just implementing a few of their many strategies will have a huge impact on your food budget!
Denise Eide
Download this speaker’s workshop handouts.
Nerf Guns and Shaving Cream: Teaching Reading and Spelling to Kids Who Can’t Sit Still
Learn how to engage your active learners through movement as Denise shares her experiences teaching and parenting active children. Discover the natural kinesthetic components to reading and spelling and learn how to tap into those in order to enhance learning for your student. In this workshop, we will
- Learn active learning games;
- Develop an appreciation of the gifts of kinesthetic learners; and
- Learn how to utilize the kinesthetic gift while strengthening areas of weakness.
Though this workshop will focus on reading and spelling, the concepts are easily applied to other subjects. Each participant will receive a handout of games and ideas that can be used on Monday!
Getting Kids Fired Up About Words!
Did you know that English spelling reflects both sound and meaning? Mastering a language as complicated as English requires that you understand how words are formed. Learning the meanings of roots, prefixes, and suffixes will transform vocabulary development, spelling, and reading. You will not only discover how English words are built, but you’ll learn practical ideas for integrating this information into your homeschool. Take a new look at the structure of words; learn how to introduce words found in history, math, and science; and discover how fun learning vocabulary can be. You will leave this workshop inspired and hungry for more! Each participant will receive a detailed handout that can be used with students of all ages.
George Escobar
Best Tools and Techniques for Young Film Makers
If your child is interested in film and has been gifted with artistic, creative, and storytelling skills, perhaps God is calling your child to became a filmmaker for Christ. Learn how to navigate successfully through the spiritual, emotional, financial, and vocational front lines that you and your child will face.
Dennis Gundersen
Building Godly Character with Older Books
When we began our homeschool journey in the early 1980′s, many experienced parents told us, “The older books, from the 19th and 18th centuries and even before, are so much better and richer in content! Find as many as you can and use them in your homeschooling!” As we asked ourselves why this is the case, it became increasingly clear that many of the books Christians wrote in those eras for the education of their children were based on biblical thinking and a biblical view of children. Come hear what we have learned in almost three decades about why older books are so often richer in content, making a more lasting impact when it comes to character building. Not only will your family be enriched by a deeper acquaintance with literature from past centuries, but you will learn how to make wiser selections for your family from among today’s children’s literature.
Helping Your Child Build a Good Conscience
What the Bible calls “a good conscience” is vital for our children to form during their youth! Parents can strengthen a child’s conscience, so the child becomes an adult of strong convictions and is compelled away from sinful living and towards righteous choices, even when parents are not present. To quote 1 Timothy 1:5, is “the goal of your instruction, a good conscience”? A practical plan for reaching that goal is the subject of this workshop.
Let’s Talk About Courtship and Dating
Whether you are navigating the young-adult years now or you are looking ahead, guiding your children to cultivate godly relationships is a primary focus. This panel discussion with five veteran homeschool parents and favorite conference speakers—Mike Farris, Dennis Gundersen, Kathie Morrissey, Israel Wayne, and Anne Miller—will both encourage you and get your questions answered!
Deadly Weaknesses in the Strong Man.
Come along for an entertaining but challenging look at a bizarre and remarkable life: Samson’s! Learn why Samson failed big in relationships, and—most of all—learn how to avoid Samson’s mistakes! This peculiar man (mighty and strong where it mattered least, and weak where it mattered most—character!) makes for a fascinating story, full of truths that fathers must pass on to their sons.
Colin Gunn
Lessons from the Making of IndoctriNation
Traveling around America in a yellow school bus, Colin and his family wanted to find out everything they could about the public schools in America. They learned a lot but needed to formulate a convincing case to present to an audience that needs to be persuaded on the problems of public schooling. This seminar details the arguments they made in the film IndoctriNation.
Guerrilla Film-Making
Discover the importance of making independent Christian media, including tips on how to make a good documentary film.
Joyce Herzog
Secrets Teachers Never Tell
Learn 12 secrets that will simplify your life AND enhance your teaching! Joyce draws from more than 30 years of experience that will make you laugh and learn. The LOAD will be lifted from your shoulders.
Choosing & Using Curriculum
Confused about educational styles, grade levels, or what your learner can do independently? Come and hear this before you spend your budget! Understand your needs and avoid wasting money on materials that don’t work.
Nifty Tricks
This workshop is filled with great ideas that will revolutionize HOW you teach and your effectiveness as you do so. See how to use graph paper to simplify the teaching of everything from printing and addition to perimeter and square root! Learn ways to reuse any workbook, instantly improve reading for some children, make learning math facts fun and easy, record progress, and more!
Hands-On Learning
Sure they like games! Learn to keep them happy and learning!
Learn More, Faster, With Fun!
Learn strategies and approaches that will leave your students laughing and learning all the way through “school.” From helpful hints on teaching toddlers, reading, writing, and history to training the teacher and simplifying both planning and record keeping, there’s something here that your family needs!
Motivating Reluctant Learners ~ Joyce Herzog
Look inside his heart, look back, see what happened. Then turn it around! If you have one or more children who are reluctant to dig in and learn, this workshop is for you! Discover that you are not alone, learn how it got this way and how to turn it around.
Kathy Kuhl
Help! Q&A for Parents of Struggling Learners ~ Panel Discussion with Judi Munday and Sarah Olbris
Have questions about teaching YOUR struggling learner? Get answers from this panel of special-needs experts!
When Arithmetic Doesn’t Come Easily
How do you teach math effectively to a child with learning challenges? How do you bear tackling math facts again? How do you move beyond the times tables when your child has not mastered them? What are your options for high school math? Veteran homeschooler and math teacher Kathy Kuhl discusses working with children who have difficulties in math and shares strategies that can be incorporated into any math curriculum.
Diane Kummer
Download this speaker’s workshop handouts.
Developing a Plan for High School
How do you plan a program for your high school homeschooler? What subjects do you teach and when? Do you follow a basic high school plan, a general college prep plan, or a rigorous college prep plan? How do you evaluate credits? Determine grades for a course? What about the need for a transcript and diploma? If you are just beginning to think about homeschooling during the high school years, this seminar will help you organize your thoughts and begin laying the groundwork for a viable, four-year plan.
Recordkeeping for High School: Simplifying the Process
Why is documentation of high school course work important? Keeping good records does not need to be time consuming or burdensome; it will actually save you time and effort in the long run. Learn what, when, and how to track your student’s progress through high school.
High School Transcript Clinic: Practical Tips and Help
Creating a high school transcript is an easy yet vital part of your child’s high school records. In this interactive, practical seminar, you’ll create a transcript that can be used as a pattern when designing your own. We’ll guide you through transcript essentials, evaluation of credit, grading guidelines and scales, and calculation of grade point averages (GPAs). In addition, you’ll receive sample transcripts depicting other formats for you to consider.
Important Pit Stops during High School
For preventative maintenance during the high school years, learn what important “to-dos” and deadlines to keep in mind. Major pit stops will include information about various tests, benefits and sources of outside classes, college search and application tips, alternatives to traditional college, and career and post high school paths.
The Scoop on Tests for Teens
Are you in a quandary as to what tests your teens need to take during high school? Do you know the array of possible tests—from college admissions tests; to tests for college credit, placement, or military enlistment; to tests necessary for certain scholarships; to even career tests? When should they be taken? Where? How can your teen prepare for them? Come and receive answers to these questions.
Virginia Largent
Music, Learning, and the Brain
Attendees to this interactive and fun workshop will discover what happens in the brain while singing and moving. Scientific studies and data will be cited, proving why singing is the best way to learn academics. Action-packed audience participation makes this workshop informative, motivational, and FUN!
Jonathan Lewis
The Socialization Deception: Redefining the Debate
No question is asked more frequently of homeschooling parents than the ever-popular, “What about socialization?” For years we’ve been answering that question . . . the wrong way. In too many cases, we’ve surrendered to the world’s system of values out of fear and intimidation, without even bothering to stop long enough to think about what we’re doing. In this provocative presentation, homeschool graduate Jonathan Lewis will challenge your thinking and invite you to take a critical look at this whole issue of socialization. You’ll come away with a better understanding of how the world thinks about socialization and how we’ve been needlessly surrendering to the world’s views. You might even end up with a new answer to the old question, “What about socialization?”
Finding Strength in our Convictions
Our convictions define us and help give us strength to persevere in times of trial. Where conviction falters, commitment wavers. But teaching your children at home is too vital an undertaking to ever waver or consider giving up. If you want your commitment to home education to be above the eroding waves of question and doubt, come along with homeschool graduate Jonathan Lewis as he lays out a comprehensive philosophy of Christian home education. This session is dedicated to helping each of us forge strong convictions that will fire our resolve, strengthen our vision, and inspire us, with God’s help, to never give up, never give in, never surrender, never quit!
Fruit of the Harvest: Homeschool Graduate Panel
Get valuable insight from this panel discussion with homeschool graduates (and conference speakers!) who have walked in the same shoes your children are. Rachel Coker, Jonathan Lewis, and Israel Wayne will share their experiences growing up in a homeschooling family.
Kathie Morrissey
Download this speaker’s workshop handouts.
Sibling Squabbles in the Schoolroom
Sibling rivalry and squabbling are things we all deal with every day. It can be very frustrating, as well as discouraging, and it’s important that we teach our children how to respond to conflict God’s way. Don’t let the arguing and strife disrupt your school days! Discover some of the most common causes of sibling squabbles, and learn about some practical solutions to the problem.
Training Character into Your Children
Character is the most important fruit that parents can nurture in their children, and is the foundation for academic learning. Discover how character is learned and how to establish a plan for teaching it to your children. Kathie will give several creative ways you can encourage your children to develop in this important area. After hearing this, you will be motivated and full of ideas to use with your own children.
Getting Back On Track! How Do I Get It All Done?
Have changes in your circumstances—sickness, a new baby, moving, etc.—caused you to get off track? Or perhaps you are just struggling to “get it all done” everyday, get your kids back in line, and get your homeschool running smoothly again. Where do you start? How do you sort through distractions and get back to where you know you should be? Kathie will give helpful ideas and insights to encourage you and help you as you strive to get back on track.
Let’s Talk About Courtship and Dating
Whether you are navigating the young-adult years now or you are looking ahead, guiding your children to cultivate godly relationships is a primary focus. This panel discussion with five veteran homeschool parents and favorite conference speakers—Mike Farris, Dennis Gundersen, Kathie Morrissey, Israel Wayne, and Anne Miller—will both encourage you and get your questions answered!
Judi Munday
Help! Q&A for Parents of Struggling Learners ~ Panel Discussion with Kathy Kuhl and Sarah Olbris
Have questions about teaching YOUR struggling learner? Get answers from this panel of special-needs experts!
Sarah Olbris
Help! Q&A for Parents of Struggling Learners ~ Panel Discussion with Kathy Kuhl and Judi Munday
Have questions about teaching YOUR struggling learner? Get answers from this panel of special-needs experts!
Andrew Pudewa
Conquering Corrupt Culture by Raising Christian Communicators
Conquering implies that we are in an extended campaign—a war—for the heart of our Christian society, now corrupted by a continuous onslaught of relativism in thought, art, and morality, resulting in a culture of death, debt, and despair. We, as Christian homeschoolers, must have more than just nice reasons to homeschool—it’s not about academics; it’s about reclaiming Western Civilization for Jesus Christ, and the choices we make every day have eternal significance as we strive to raise up a generation of young people who will be empowered to communicate the truth in a world of liars and lead their clueless peers through the coming crises. We have an immediate and urgent responsibility to raise up an army of culture warriors.
The Four Deadly Errors of Teaching Writing
We’ve all suffered it at one time or another: frustration about writing assignments. Either on the receiving end, or perhaps now on the giving end, there can be a few distinctly discouraging aspects to teaching and being taught writing. The tough questions include: What to correct and how to give a grade? How much help is too much? Isn’t the assignment clear enough? Why don’t students find their own errors? Learn and avoid four teaching mistakes that contribute to this frustration: overcorrecting, holding back help, unclear assignments, and over-expectation.
Carol Reynolds
The Homeschooling Edge: A Professor’s View on College Prep
As a professor, Dr. Reynolds watched homeschooled students rise to the top of her classes. But why? In this workshop, she will analyze homeschoolers’ strengths, share several cautions, and discuss what parents and students can do to polish their children’s “homeschool edge.”
The Wrong Reasons to Teach Classical Music
People say classical music is “good for our children”—like a vitamin! But music’s role in Western culture goes far deeper. Let’s consider, and dispense with, the wrong reasons to teach classical music, and the wrong ways to teach it. Then we’ll see why it belongs at the core, not the periphery, of our children’s education. In fact, if our children are to compete in the global economy, effective training in music and the arts (right-brain, whole mind) is a necessity!
Exploring Hymns and Their Role in Home Education
Families may have hymnbooks on the shelves, but how often are they used in teaching subjects like history and poetry? There are even math and geography lessons hidden in hymnals! Dr. Reynolds will show parents how to take this overlooked resource to enrich their home education and restore traditions that once were common in the Christian home.
Joel Salatin
Child-Friendly Food Production
From backyard chickens to vermi-composting and vegetable production, children
can produce copious amounts of food for the family. Small animals and garden beds
offer appropriate-sized production models where children can learn and thrive. Re-connecting to our ecological umbilical cultivates a respect and awe for God’s design. A passion for earthworms is certainly as valuable as a passion for soccer.
The Self-Contained Home
“Opt out” was the mantra of the early homeschooling movement. The next permutation of that theme is to opt out in other areas, and what better way than to retrofit our homes into water-energy-food generation stations: to pull the plug, so to speak? A bountiful harvest awaits us when we harness sunshine, water, carbon cycles, and technology-integration right where we live. Why patronize the system any more than necessary?
Now That We Can Teach ‘Em, What Will We Feed ‘Em?
While education choice has steadily gained credibility and status in our culture, food choice is suffering from a tyrannical food inquisition. Why is local-integrity food so expensive? Why can’t you get raw milk for your children? This session will expose the food orthodoxy of the USDA and FDA for exactly what it is—an assault on liberty and personhood. “Who owns the child?” was the cry 30 years ago. Today it’s, “Who owns my body?” What good is the freedom to educate if we can’t choose the fuel for our brains and bodies to function normally?
Cedric Saunders
Incorporating Storytelling In Your Homeschool
The acronym SOW SEEDS is used to discuss the basics of storytelling. Both young and old enjoy excellent stories. This dynamic tool can be used to teach about fascinating historical characters or to liven up an otherwise drab subject. From our own homeschool of six children to an auditorium of 600, I have used this tool to teach and to entertain. It is also useful in teaching our special-needs children. A variety of subjects are addressed, including presentation techniques, economical costumes and props, the importance of using original source documents, and more. The Apostle Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 3:6, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (NKJV). Storytelling plants the seed but God causes the increase.
Joe Tyler
Raising G-Rated Sons in an R-Rated World
Joe Tyler discusses the key issues we face as dads striving to instill a Christ-centered vision of purity in our sons. He addresses the cultural pressures on our young men and shares practical advice to counter the culture. Because of the frank and sensitive nature of this discussion, we request that only men attend.
You Want to What? Confessions of a Reluctant Homeschool Dad
When Joe Tyler’s wife, Zan, recommended homeschooling in 1984, he thought she was crazy. In this session, Joe shares his experiences in his homeschool-dad journey from skeptic to raging fan. Moms will learn techniques for thriving in their homeschool classrooms with a reluctant principal, and Dads will be encouraged to jump in with both feet and enjoy the experience. WARNING: In this session, dads may become so enthusiastic that they may even become teachers!
Laughter is the Best Medicine ~ with Zan Tyler
In spite of this rocky start, Zan and Joe have thoroughly enjoyed thirty-five years of marriage. They have experienced many joys and triumphs and weathered many storms. Along with the varied hats Joe wears in the home, he is in charge of attitude adjustments and comic relief. Come enjoy a refreshing session of humor and encouragement as Joe and Zan share candidly about the ups and downs of married life (including their biggest fight ever), while focusing on the biblical principles that have served as the unshakeable foundation of their marriage. Understanding and embracing the magnificent biblical vision of marriage is the key to a vibrant relationship.
Zan Tyler
How Do I Teach My Young Child to Have a Biblical Worldview?
Teaching our children to think biblically is one of the most important gifts we can give them. And we shouldn’t wait until the high school years to do this! Come to this workshop to find out:
• Why the elementary years are so important in developing a biblical worldview
• How to teach important theological truths to youngsters
• How to train even young children to analyze the culture, literature, and music
• How worldview training imparts longevity and vitality to faith
Talk with Me: How Conversation Stimulates Learning
In the traditional school environment, students have an average of eight to ten individual interactions with their teacher each day. In your homeschool, these verbal interactions can number in the hundreds and thus greatly enhance the education your children receive at home. Zan Tyler shares how the simple, free tool of conversation can help your children replace boredom during lessons with a motivation to learn. Discover why parents make the best teachers and capitalize on these strengths. Explore ways to minimize conflict in your home and promote camaraderie and enthusiasm instead. Identify simple but profound ways to replace drudgery in learning with stimulating academics. Conversation is key!
Living in the Fiery Furnace: Avoiding Homeschool Burnout
The combination of great expectations and great demands that homeschooling places on parents often sets us up for an intense sense of failure and disappointment. Homeschooling doesn’t always go according to our plans. Even when we are doing our best to follow God and love our families, we can find ourselves in the “fiery furnace.” In this workshop, Zan Tyler explores the causes of burnout and talks about ways to avoid them. She also explains what to do if you are already there—ready to throw in the towel and put your children on that appealing yellow school bus. This workshop contains many practical tips on streamlining your life, but it also focuses on developing a powerful, biblical vision of what you are ultimately trying to accomplish in the lives of your children through homeschooling—to sustain you through the hard times and difficult days.
Worldveiw Training: Teaching Your Children to Think like a Christian in a Non-Christian World ~ Zan Tyler
The statistics are tragic and startling. Great percentages of children raised in evangelical homes are not continuing in their faith and beliefs as they reach adulthood. Some of the most important academic and practical training we can give our children is worldview training. In this workshop, discover why Christian worldview training is absolutely crucial in our goal is to teach our children to think biblically about all of life. We will also discuss the following questions:
• What is worldview, and how does it serve my child?
• How can I teach worldview–even if I don’t understand it?
• At what age should I teach worldview to my children?
• Can I award high school credit for studying worldview?
If we want to see true revival in our culture, we must equip our children to become powerful thinkers, leaders, and communicators!
Laughter is the Best Medicine ~ with Joe Tyler
In spite of this rocky start, Zan and Joe have thoroughly enjoyed thirty-five years of marriage. They have experienced many joys and triumphs and weathered many storms. Along with the varied hats Joe wears in the home, he is in charge of attitude adjustments and comic relief. Come enjoy a refreshing session of humor and encouragement as Joe and Zan share candidly about the ups and downs of married life (including their biggest fight ever), while focusing on the biblical principles that have served as the unshakeable foundation of their marriage. Understanding and embracing the magnificent biblical vision of marriage is the key to a vibrant relationship.
Diana Waring
Exposing the Wizard of Oz— A Christian’s Guide to Teaching History
This workshop is the essential crash course for every homeschool parent. Discover insights from Diana’s research behind the events of history. Share her wisdom for teaching history. Do you wonder, “Whom do I trust and what do I read to know real history?” Diana will equip YOU, regardless of your curriculum, to find your way through the challenges. She will lead you to a path you can follow in discovering treasures of history with your family.
History Via the Scenic Route
Are you tired of force-feeding history to your children? Does history make them yawn? Or, do you have one of those hungry-for-history type students who would devour far more than you could ever dream up to provide? Diana Waring will take you on an extraordinary learning adventure as she shares with you how to make the facts come alive and the learning go deeper! Join Diana for her “sit-on-the-edge-of-your-chair-in-suspense” history approach—using literature, music, art, science, cooking, and more—that
has captivated homeschoolers across five nations.
Box-Free Living
Rather than raising children to follow formulas and live according to somebody else’s standards of behavior, let’s teach them using loving, biblical discipleship, and then have them “follow me as I follow Christ.” Rather than trying to force your home schooling to look like someone else’s, learn to hear from the Lord just what is best for your own family. Instead of falling victim to preconceived judgments, from yourself or from others, learn to find God’s way for you in this home schooling journey. The depth of communication presented here is so valuable that pastors—who recognize the universal need for loving, supportive, healthy relationships—tell Diana this is her most important workshop!
Not Just Your Average Genius
In this fast-paced, easy-to-understand workshop, you will distinguish three different grids that impact the unique way each one in your family learns: learning modalities (visual, auditory, kinesthetic); learning styles (Feeler, Thinker, Sensor, Intuitor); learning intelligences (interpersonal, intrapersonal, linguistic, spatial, math-logical, bodily kinesthetic, musical, naturalist). Discover how to honor (not curse!) that wiggler in your midst; how to create a rich atmosphere for learning that will attract every learner; how to utilize your children’s strengths to learn subjects that are hard for them; and, most importantly, learn that God delights in the incredibly individualized mechanisms for learning inside each of us! With this insight, including new research on intelligences, you will be able to
adapt your teaching strategies AND choose your curriculum wisely.
Brian Wasko
Ten Dumb Things Young Writers Do and How to Avoid Them
This workshop focuses on the most common mistakes young writers make. We dip our toes into some grammatical issues, but the workshop focuses on simple principles of good writing. We examine common problems like redundancy, telling instead of showing, and modifier dependence.
The Most Fascinating Discussion of Grammar in the History of the World!
There is perhaps no subject more intrinsically boring than grammar. Maybe that’s why students don’t get it–and we hate teaching it. In this workshop, you’ll learn that grammar ain’t isn’t so hard, and that it can actually (sometimes) be (sort of) fun (ish). Brian will answer the most common questions: why we should teach it, when we should teach it, and how we should teach it. Plus, you’ll get to take the world’s trickiest grammar quiz. But wait–there’s more! Brian will reveal the secret that guarantees your students will never make a grammar error in their writing again! How can you pass that up?
Dr. Kenneth R. Westcott
Download this speaker’s workshop handouts.
Learning Accommodations
Many otherwise bright children struggle in their schoolwork each year or seem to be “smart in everything but school.” The American Optometric Association reports that at least 60% of these problem learners have undiagnosed vision problems that significantly affect their academic performance. Most startling, nearly all of these children have perfect eyesight. Dr. Westcott will discuss how visual development impacts learning and tell you how to work around these visual problems in a homeschool setting.
